Armstead has yet to live up to Lane Kiffin's hype

Defensive lineman Armond Armstead was so dominant at times during training camp that USC coach Lane Kiffin compared him to Michael Strahan.

By that standard, Armstead's junior season has been a disappointment.

Armstead (94, right) simply hasn't made a ton of plays. In eight games, he has 25 tackles -- barely half of DL leader Jurrell Casey's 45 -- four stops for losses, one sack and one fumble recovery.

"Armond's done some really good things," Kiffin said. "(But) there's been some inconsistency."

He isn't just talking about Armstead's play.

Because of injuries, Armstead has rotated between defensive tackle and defensive end. As a result, Kiffin said, "he hasn't really gotten to sit at a position all year long and improve at that."

Armstead also is playing too many snaps. He and Casey rarely leave the field.

"In a perfect world they'd be playing 40 snaps a game. Now they're playing 70, 75 sometimes," Kiffin siad. "It is what it is. We can't do anything about it. But they'd definitely be fresher."

Finally, Kiffin believes Armstead's game might be more effective in the NFL. At 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, he's perfectly suited to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. In the Pac-10, he's facing one spread team after another.

"I don't think that these offenses are perfect fits for him," Kiffin said. "He is a big-time, run-stopping, physical defensive end, somebody that will be of great value at the next level where people run normal offenses, or if we were in a different conference. This conference all of a sudden has gotten all spread out."

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.